Across regions and around the world, people have endured daily dangers and unacceptable suffering from the use of explosive weapons. For those living in crowded urban areas, the perils are multiplied. … Parties to conflict and States must avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and work to remove conflict from urban areas altogether.

Developments and trends, 2022

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Throughout 2022, the world continued to suffer from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms, light weapons and ammunition. In various settings, armed violence continued to be driven by the ongoing movement of weapons to and between non-State actors, including in the context of organized crime and terrorism.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, world military expenditure rose by 3.7 per cent in real terms in 2022 to reach a record high of $2.24 trillion, which amounts to 2.2 per cent of the total global economic output and around $282 per capita. Factoring in the plans announced by some Member States to boost military budgets in response to the current security landscape, the global total for military expenditures is estimated to rise sharply in the coming years.

Indeed, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many States began supplying the Ukrainian armed forces with military equipment. Conventional arms transfers included heavy weapons and military equipment such as armoured combat vehicles, anti-aircraft systems, artillery, helicopters, missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, as well as small arms and light weapons. The Security Council considered the issue of arms transfers twice in 2022, largely owing to that situation (S/PV.9127 and S/PV.9216).

Harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure also remained a significant concern. Most civilian casualties recorded in Ukraine were caused by explosive weapons with wide-area effects such as missiles and payloads launched from aircraft, as well as by heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems. On 18 November, 83 States adopted the new Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, marking a milestone in efforts to better protect civilians from the increasing urbanization of armed conflict.

The eighth Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (A/CONF.192/15, para. 24) took place in New York from 27 June to 1 July. Given the geopolitical climate at the time, many Member States saw the consensus adoption of an outcome document (A/CONF.192/BMS/2022/1) at the Meeting as an important achievement and a positive forecast for the fourth Review Conference of the Programme of Action, to be held from 17 to 28 June 2024.[1] Despite opposing views from some States, the outcome document retained earlier calls for the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in implementing small-arms programmes, as well as for enhanced international cooperation in that field. Issues such as new technologies and the inclusion of ammunition in the implementation efforts of the Programme of Action remained divisive topics. Notably, however, Member States agreed to establish a new, standing dedicated fellowship training programme on small arms and light weapons to strengthen technical knowledge and expertise related to implementing the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument. The Office for Disarmament Affairs, which was mandated to establish the fellowship programme, will begin training sessions in 2024.

In 2022, Luxembourg acceded to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol), bringing the number of States parties to 122. Furthermore, during the general debate of the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly, China announced its decision to launch its domestic procedure to ratify the Protocol, which aims to promote, facilitate and strengthen cooperation among States parties in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition.

The Security Council also remained seized of the challenges related to the misuse, illicit transfer and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons. It regularly addressed issues related to weapons and ammunition, especially in the context of arms embargoes, peacekeeping operations and special political missions. Through such operations, the United Nations continued implementing arms-related provisions of Security Council mandates in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Libya, Mali, South Sudan and the Sudan.

Furthermore, in 2022, a new open-ended working group was established to develop a set of political commitments as a new global framework to address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management. Concurrently, the Office for Disarmament Affairs, within the framework of the United Nations SaferGuard Programme for which it is custodian, continued to maintain the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines while encouraging States to use them to enhance the safety and security of ammunition stockpiles.

Separately, the Group of Governmental Experts on the Continuing Operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) and its Further Development concluded its work in June, following three one-week sessions held in New York and Geneva. As of 2022, the Register had served for 30 years as a global instrument for promoting transparency in international arms transfers. The Group of Governmental Experts adopted a consensus report (A/77/126) with practical measures for the United Nations Secretariat and Member States to promote participation in and use of the Register.

The United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR) funded eight projects. As the administrator of the Trust Facility, the Office for Disarmament Affairs provided substantive input for those projects, ensuring their alignment with the strategic thematic orientation agreed upon by the UNSCAR strategic planning group.[2] In response to the 2022 call for proposals, 50 applications were received.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) funding facility continued in Cameroon, Jamaica and South Sudan. A scoping mission was carried out in Honduras to identify levels of armed violence, illicit flows of small arms and light weapons and the country's commitment to resolving those issues in order to establish its eligibility for the SALIENT fund.

Within the framework of the Silencing the Guns initiative, the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the African Union supported an additional three countries (Liberia, Togo and United Republic of Tanzania) in their efforts to reduce illegal gun ownership and illicit flows of small arms and light weapons. Activities under the initiative include the surrender and collection of illegally owned weapons, as well as capacity-building in the areas of awareness-raising and local outreach campaigns, community-based policing, and weapons and ammunition management.

In 2022, Malawi became the 126th High Contracting Party to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons), and the Philippines joined as the ninety-seventh High Contracting Party to the Convention's Protocol V on explosive remnants of war. Reporting under the Convention was the highest in 2022, with 58 High Contracting Parties submitting compliance reports, representing 46 per cent of High Contracting Parties. The Convention’s office holders and the Office for Disarmament Affairs also strengthened universalization efforts, organizing several well-attended workshops and seminars as part of awareness-raising and outreach for non-High Contracting Parties. In addition, the Geneva Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs began activities for a new project funded by the European Union pursuant to Council decision 2021/1694 supporting the Convention.

Arms Trade Treaty

The Arms Trade Treaty[3] was created to establish common standards for international trade in conventional arms and to eradicate the illicit trade in conventional weapons. As at the end of 2022, its total number of States parties stood at 113, with 17 signatory States that had not yet ratified the Treaty.

Eighth Conference of States Parties

The eighth Conference of States Parties took place from 22 to 26 August under the presidency of Thomas Göbel (Germany). The Conference was attended by 87 States parties, 20 signatory States and one State not party to the Treaty. In addition, nine international and regional organizations and 40 civil society organizations participated as observers (for the list of participants, see ATT/CSP8/2022/SEC/738/Conf.PartList). In preparation, participants held two series of hybrid meetings of the Treaty’s three working groups[4] and two informal preparatory meetings on 18 February and 29 April.

On behalf of the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, the Chief of the Geneva Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs delivered remarks during the opening session of the Conference, emphasizing that the Treaty offered opportunities to take into consideration humanitarian and human rights perspectives. She stressed that preventing diversion was a key priority and that effective coordination and information exchange was critical in mitigating the illicit trade of conventional arms and preventing their diversion.

The Conference began with a high-level thematic discussion on post-shipment controls, a topic on which the President presented a paper (ATT/CSP8/2022/PRES/732/Conf.PostShip). The panellists focused on post-shipment on-site inspections, which are physical inspections conducted by exporting States within the importing State’s facilities. The Conference welcomed the thematic discussion and explored how the subject could be articulated in the context of the Arms Trade Treaty in the meeting’s final report (ATT/CSP8/2022/SEC/739/Conf.FinRep.Rev2). On that matter, the Conference decided on the following:

• States parties are encouraged to continue discussing approaches and understandings of “post-shipment controls” or “post-delivery coordination” in the context of diversion control.
• States parties are encouraged to share their experiences regarding the implementation of post-shipment control measures within the scope of the Treaty through various means (initial report, annual report, Conference of States Parties, etc.) without setting additional burdens beyond the obligations of the Treaty.

Moreover, the Diversion Information Exchange Forum, established by the sixth Conference of States Parties (see ATT/CSP6/2020/SEC/635/Conf.FinRep.Rev1), met for the first time during the eighth Conference, providing an opportunity for States parties and signatory States to exchange information on concrete cases of detected or suspected diversion and to share concrete, operational, diversion-related information as outlined in articles 11 and 15 of the Treaty. The Chair of the Forum (Mexico) briefed the Conference following the inaugural session, welcoming the presentations made by four States. The Conference encouraged all States parties and signatory States to present cases of diversion at forthcoming meetings of the Forum; under the body’s terms of reference (ATT/CSP6.DIEF/2020/CHAIR/632/Conf.DIEFToRs), those meetings would take place at the initiative of the President of the ninth Conference of States Parties.

The Conference then considered the reports of the working groups on effective treaty implementation, treaty universalization, and transparency and reporting, as well as various documents submitted by the Management Committee.[5] Treaty implementation had progressed through the efforts of the different working groups, especially through the preparation of the first chapters of a voluntary guide to assist States parties in implementing articles 6 and 7. Following consideration of the documents of each working group, the Conference decided, inter alia, to take the following actions: (a) endorse the revised “Frequently Asked Questions” guidance document on the annual reporting obligations; (b) extend the mandate of the Sub-Working Group on Article 11 to enable it to focus on post-delivery cooperation; and (c) request Germany to work further on the universalization of the Treaty and to report on the matter to the next Conference of States Parties.

Emphasizing the importance of transparency and reporting, the Conference expressed concern regarding the low rate of compliance with reporting obligations. In keeping with a decision from the seventh Conference of States Parties, States parties now have the option to share annual Arms Trade Treaty reports with the Office for Disarmament Affairs as submissions to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. In that context, the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat transmitted 25 reports to the Office for Disarmament Affairs in 2022.

Finally, the eighth Conference of States Parties decided to hold the ninth such meeting at the International Conference Centre in Geneva from 21 to 25 August 2023. It elected the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the Conference on Disarmament[6] as the President and Australia, Latvia, South Africa and Uruguay as the four Vice-Presidents. Furthermore, the Conference decided that the informal preparatory meetings and the meetings of the working groups would also be held in Geneva, with dates to be confirmed by the President of the ninth Conference of States Parties.

Small arms and light weapons

Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons

Efforts to implement the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001), along with its International Tracing Instrument (2005), continued apace in 2022. However, many countries remained behind their goals, facing various legislative, operational and resource-related challenges to achieving the Programme’s full and effective implementation. In that context, the impact of illicit arms on national, regional and international security remained significant throughout the year.

In 2022, the eighth Biennial Meeting of States was convened, in person, from 27 June to 1 July in New York. The first meeting was chaired by Enrique Manalo (Philippines); however, owing to his departure due to other duties, the remaining meetings were chaired by a rotation of the Vice-Chairs as agreed to by the bureau. In conformity with the recommendations of the seventh Biennial Meeting of States, the eighth Biennial Meeting of States focused, inter alia, on enhancing modalities and procedures for international cooperation and assistance in the implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument. The preparatory process for the Meeting included virtual informal consultations and in-person consultations, as well as a series of online regional briefings held by the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. Additionally, in May, the Secretary-General published his report on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (A/77/77), which included recommendations for consideration by Member States on means of enhancing modalities and procedures for international cooperation and assistance.

The Meeting adopted an outcome document (A/CONF.192/BMS/2022/1) by consensus, which many States considered an important achievement as the outcome documents of the two preceding meetings were adopted by vote. Some States later stated they had agreed to the consensus to restore unity in the Programme of Action process, but they reiterated reservations regarding some elements of the outcome document.

In addition to referencing the importance of strengthening cooperation at the subregional, regional and international levels, States agreed to establish a standing fellowship training programme on small arms and light weapons to strengthen technical knowledge and expertise in areas related to implementing the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument, particularly in developing countries. They also called for the United Nations to provide options both for enhancing the effectiveness of the existing international assistance frameworks and for developing national action plans, regional road maps and similar initiatives on the control of small arms and light weapons. Such initiatives would incorporate experience-sharing among supportive regional and subregional organizations.

Recent developments in small arms and light weapons manufacturing, technology and design remained contentious. As mandated, the Office for Disarmament Affairs delivered, at the eighth Biennial Meeting of States, a presentation on good marking practices for modular and polymer weapons, taking into account the views of Member States and the role of manufacturers. States decided that the fourth Review Conference in 2024 would take up discussions on establishing an open-ended technical expert group on new technologies, requesting the United Nations Secretariat to circulate, in advance, proposals on focus issues and administrative arrangements.

Additionally, it was agreed that States should ensure that international humanitarian law and international human rights law were taken into consideration in national small arms and light weapons transfer decisions and that there be coordination between national small arms and light weapons focal points and women, peace and security focal points. Despite strong calls by some States to include ammunition in the outcome document, the Meeting decided only to acknowledge the ongoing discussions in the Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition in a preambular paragraph.

During the year, the Office for Disarmament Affairs received 92 reports from Member States on their implementation of the Programme of Action in the period 2020–2021. As in past meetings, the Office presented an analysis of implementation trends, challenges and opportunities based on the reports submitted by States.

The eighth Biennial Meeting of States recommended that the fourth Review Conference in 2024 be preceded by a five-day preparatory committee session earlier in the year. The General Assembly, by its resolution 77/71, endorsed the recommendation and decided to convene the meetings in New York in 2024.

As at the end of 2022, the Office for Disarmament Affairs was preparing to support technical and substantive preparations for the Review Conference through the organization of thematic and regional workshops under a new multi-year project funded by the European Union. In addition to convening workshops in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific, the Office planned to build on progress made through its previous European Union-funded multi-year project on supporting gender mainstreamed policies, programmes and actions in the context of the Programme of Action, which successfully concluded in October.

Silencing the Guns in Africa: Africa Amnesty Month

The Office for Disarmament Affairs continued to implement a joint United Nations-African Union project aimed at reducing illegal gun ownership and illicit flows of small arms and light weapons in Africa by encouraging citizens to voluntarily hand over illegally owned small arms under the condition of anonymity and immunity from legal prosecution. The project, initiated in 2020, is part of the United Nations broader support for the African Union’s Silencing the Guns by 2030 flagship initiative for a conflict-free Africa. Its objectives are to make peace in Africa a reality and to rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts, as well as to prevent genocide.

During the year, the Office for Disarmament Affairs worked with the African Union Commission and the Regional Centre on Small Arms to support six African States (Liberia, Madagascar, the Niger, Togo, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania) in implementing the project.

As in previous years, the beneficiary countries organized awareness-raising campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers and risks of illegal gun ownership and illicit flows of small arms and light weapons, enhanced their capacities in stockpile management and community-based policing, and collected and publicly destroyed the weapons voluntarily surrendered by civilians. While the project’s core activities were similar across all the countries, each beneficiary State developed and implemented actions that were specifically designed to address national and regional contexts, in line with the principle of national ownership promoted by the Office for Disarmament Affairs.

Madagascar, the Niger and Uganda, beneficiaries of the 2021 edition of the Africa Amnesty Month project, concluded their iteration of the project in April 2022. Those countries had destroyed a combined total of 1,602 weapons since initiating their campaigns in September 2021.

Liberia, Togo and the United Republic of Tanzania successfully implemented their amnesty campaigns between August and November 2022. Under the joint assistance project, the three countries collected a total of 2,146 weapons and 2,800 rounds of ammunition, and organized the public destruction of the weapons collected. All three countries included in the destruction weapons seized by their defence and security forces, weapons retrieved from courts and temporary storage facilities, and weapons collected in previous amnesty campaigns. In total, the three countries destroyed 10,717 weapons.

To further build upon the project's successful short-term impact, the Office for Disarmament Affairs initiated discussions with respect to potential follow-up activities that the beneficiary States would conduct themselves, drawing upon the experience and capacities developed during their amnesty campaigns. In one key outcome, States voiced their readiness to further invest in local awareness-raising campaigns. Furthermore, they affirmed the value of organizing yearly weapons destruction events, through which they could demonstrate their commitment to preventing the misuse of illicit arms and reducing illicit arms flows, as well as build public confidence in efforts to control small arms and light weapons.

Security Council

The Security Council did not receive a dedicated biennial report of the Secretary-General on small arms and light weapons in 2022, but it regularly addressed issues related to weapons and ammunition, especially in the context of arms embargoes, peacekeeping operations and special political missions. For example, the Council continued its practice of easing and partially lifting arms embargoes to help select States strengthen their security services and of identifying and considering progress on benchmarks to support the reassessment of arms embargoes. The Security Council also continued to integrate specific commitments and measures related to weapons and ammunition management into its resolutions to address risks related to diversion.

Country-specific situations, including peace operations and arms embargoes

The Security Council addressed weapons and ammunition issues in country-specific situations on its agenda, such as Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, the Sudan and Yemen. (See also figure 3.2.)

With the adoption in February of resolution 2626 (2022) on the situation in Afghanistan, the Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, adding to its priorities to support regional and international efforts to prevent and address the illicit trade in and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their diversion in Afghanistan and the region.

In July and November, the Security Council adopted two resolutions related to the Central African Republic. In July, by resolution 2648 (2022), the Council extended the arms embargo and the Panel of Experts mandate for the country while easing some restrictions. The Security Council further requested the Central African Republic authorities to report, by 15 May 2023, to the Committee on the progress achieved regarding, inter alia, the management of weapons and ammunition. It also requested the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, as well as the United Nations Mine Action Service and the Panel of Experts to report, no later than 15 May 2023, on the progress achieved by the national authorities on the key benchmarks it had established on arms embargo measures, including for weapons and ammunition management.

In December, by resolution 2659 (2022), the Security Council extended the mandate of the Mission. Condemning cross-border criminal activities, including arms trafficking, as well as the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, the Council outlined a range of mandated tasks that included activities related to managing weapons and ammunition. The Security Council also requested the Mission to actively seize, record, dispose of and destroy weapons and ammunitions of disarmed combatants and armed groups and to provide support to the national authorities in their efforts to achieve progress on the key benchmarks for the review of the arms embargo measures. By the same resolution, the Council called on the national authorities and the authorities of neighbouring countries to cooperate at the regional level to investigate and combat transnational criminal networks and armed groups involved in arms trafficking. It further called for the reactivation and regular follow-up of bilateral joint commissions between the Central African Republic and neighbouring countries to address cross-border arms trafficking and take agreed upon next steps to secure common borders.

In 2022, the Security Council adopted three resolutions on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In June, by resolution 2641 (2022), the Council renewed the arms embargo against the country and eased certain notification requirements. It also stressed the importance of enhancing the safe and effective management, storage and security of stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, including to reduce the risk of diversion to armed groups. Furthermore, by resolution 2667 (2022) adopted in December, the Security Council lifted the requirement to give the Sanctions Committee advance notice of any shipment of arms and related materiel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo — or any provision of assistance, advice or training related to military activities in the country. By the same resolution, the Council requested the Government to provide a confidential report by May 2023 on its efforts to ensure safe and effective management, storage, marking, monitoring and security of the national stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, including efforts to fight arms trafficking and diversion.

The Security Council adopted resolution 2666 (2022) in December, extending the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Expressing concern with regard to diversions of arms from national stockpiles to armed groups in the country, the Council called for continued national efforts to address the threat posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including through safe and secure management of weapons and ammunition with the continued support of the Mission. By the same resolution, the Council called on the Government to expand its support to the National Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and Reduction of Armed Violence. As part of ongoing efforts to reform the country’s security sector, the Security Council mandated the Mission to support, via the United Nations Mine Action Service, the Government in enhancing the capacities of the Congolese security forces, including through advice, training and capacity development in managing weapons and ammunition, countering improvised explosive devices and disposing of explosive ordnance. In addition, with respect to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the Council mandated the Mission to advise and support the national authorities in disposing of weapons and ammunition from disarmed Congolese and foreign combatants in compliance with applicable international arms control treaties, including the Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa — of which the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a signatory party — and the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and All Parts and Components That Can Be Used for Their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly (Kinshasa Convention).

Earlier in the year, in a presidential statement (S/PRST/2022/4) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council reaffirmed the linkage between the illegal exploitation and trade in natural resources and the illegal acquisition and trafficking of small arms and light weapons in fuelling and exacerbating armed conflict in the region.

In July, by resolution 2645 (2022), the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, urging the Haitian authorities to address gang violence and its root causes in a comprehensive and urgent manner, including through violence reduction programmes and weapons and ammunition management. The Council also expressed concern that illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel of all types undermined the rule of law and human rights, and could impede the provision of humanitarian assistance and have wide-ranging negative humanitarian and socioeconomic consequences. In that regard, the Security Council called on Member States to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons and ammunition to non-State actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activities or human rights abuses in Haiti. It encouraged them to cooperate in preventing illicit arms trafficking and diversion, including by providing and exchanging timely and updated information to identify and combat illicit trafficking sources and supply chains. By the same resolution, the Security Council also requested the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti to work with relevant United Nations agencies to support Haitian authorities in combating illicit financial flows, as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel, and in enhancing management and control of borders and ports.

In October, by resolution 2653 (2022), the Security Council established a sanctions regime on Haiti, including a targeted arms embargo, deciding that all Member States should immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the individuals and entities designated by the Sanctions Committee of arms and related materiel of all types and technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance, related to military activities or the provision, maintenance or use of any arms and related materiel. Noting the need to prohibit the transfer of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to non-State actors in Haiti, as well as to prevent their illicit trafficking and diversion, the Security Council encouraged Member States to ensure adequate marking and record-keeping measures were in place to trace arms in accordance with the international and regional instruments as well as to consider how best to assist neighbouring countries in preventing and detecting illicit trafficking and diversion in violation of the arms embargo.

In 2022, the Security Council adopted six resolutions on the situation in Libya. In resolution 2644 (2022), adopted in July, the Council expressed serious concern over continued violations of the arms embargo and demanded full compliance by all Member States. The Council also called upon the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the national authorities to support the investigative work of the Panel of Experts inside Libya for implementing the relevant arms embargo. The Security Council specified that such support should include granting access to weapons storage facilities.

When it extended the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya through resolution 2656 (2022), adopted in October, the Security Council condemned the indiscriminate use of weapons in populated areas and their consequences for the civilian population and called upon all parties to refrain from such practices. The Council also expressed concern at the threat posed by the diversion and proliferation of arms and ammunition in Libya and called on key Libyan institutions, with support from the United Nations, to take steps to secure and effectively manage stockpiles, clear explosive ordnance and explosive remnants of war from hazardous areas, and protect civilians from the risks of unplanned explosions at munition sites.

Regarding the situation in Mali, in June, the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali by adopting resolution 2640 (2022), including to assist the Malian authorities with the removal and destruction of mines and other explosive devices along with the management of weapons and ammunition. The Council also called upon the Malian authorities to address the issue of the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, including by ensuring the safe and effective management, storage and security of their stockpiles and ammunition in accordance with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and other related materials, as well as with the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

The situation in Somalia was the subject of six Security Council resolutions during the year. Through resolution 2662 (2022), adopted in September, the Council renewed the partial arms embargo on Somalia, as well as the authorization of maritime interdiction to enforce the bans on imports of illicit arms, exports of charcoal and shipments of improvised explosive device components. Furthermore, the Council reaffirmed the humanitarian exemptions from that regime. Based on the Secretary-General’s technical assessment of Somalia’s weapons and ammunition management capability (S/2022/698) and the final report of the Panel of Experts (S/2022/754), the Security Council established a consolidated framework to strengthen State-building and peacebuilding in Somalia, defeat Al‑Shabaab and complement the mandates of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, including through supporting weapons and ammunition management. The Security Council called upon the Somali Government authorities to (a) further engage and cooperate on the implementation of the National Weapons and Ammunition Management Strategy; (b) establish an ammunition accounting system and build sufficient armouries and ammunition storage areas to strengthen the capacity of stockpile management; and (c) promote further professionalization, training and capacity-building of Somali security and police institutions. Welcoming the benchmarks proposed following the technical assessment, the Security Council urged the Somali authorities to work together to meet them fully and called upon the international community to provide additional support to develop capacity for weapons and ammunition management in Somalia. The Security Council added a new exemption to the arms embargo regarding deliveries of weapons and military equipment, or the provision of technical advice, financial and other assistance, and training related to military activities intended solely for the development of Somalia’s security and police institutions, to provide security for the country’s people. The exemption is also extended to, among others, United Nations and African Union missions in Somalia, as well as States or international, regional and subregional organizations undertaking measures to suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia.

In February, the Security Council extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan by adopting resolution 2620 (2022), underscoring the need to mitigate the risks for the population posed by the misuse of small arms and light weapons. The Council noted the Secretary-General’s report (S/2021/696) of 31 July 2021, reviewing the situation in Darfur and recommending benchmarks to assess the sanction measures. It also expressed its intention to consider establishing clear, well-identified and realistic key benchmarks, with readiness to consider adjusting measures to respond to the situation in Darfur, given the evolving situation on the ground. In addition, the Council requested the Government of the Sudan to submit requests for the Committee’s consideration and, where appropriate, prior approval for the movement of military equipment and supplies into the Darfur region, particularly in the context of implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, signed in 2020.

In June, the Security Council adopted resolution 2636 (2022) to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan. The Mission is tasked with supporting the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement, including with respect to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and to the safe and effective management, storage and security of weapons and ammunition stockpiles. The Mission is also mandated to support Sudanese-led peacebuilding, particularly in the areas of conflict prevention, mitigation and reconciliation; community violence reduction with a particular focus on inter-communal violence; mine action; and collection of small arms and light weapons consistent with international standards.

By adopting resolution 2625 (2022) in March, the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Expressing grave concern at the threat to peace and security in South Sudan arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, the Council demanded that all Member States comply with their obligations to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition. As part of the Mission’s mandate on protecting civilians, the Security Council required the Mission to support the relevant national and state-level authorities and civil society organizations in developing and implementing gender-responsive community violence reduction programmes to help de-escalate intercommunal violence and complement community disarmament initiatives in cooperation and coordination with development partners and community representatives.

In May, the Security Council adopted resolution 2633 (2022), extending the arms embargo on South Sudan and the mandate of the Panel of Experts. The Council reiterated its readiness to review arms embargo measures through, inter alia, modification, suspension or progressive lifting of those measures in light of progress achieved on the key benchmarks set out in resolution 2577 (2021), including progress by the South Sudanese defence and security forces on properly managing their existing arms and ammunition stockpiles. It also requested that the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the Panel, to assess progress made on the key benchmarks no later than 15 April 2023.

In February, the Security Council renewed the arms embargo on Yemen by resolution 2624 (2022), expressing concern at the ongoing threats arising from the illicit transfer, diversion, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of weapons. Taking note of the findings of the Panel of Experts’ final report (S/2022/50), confirming weapons were transferred to Yemen, the Council condemned the continued supply of weapons and components to the country and called on Member States to increase efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons and components via land and sea routes, to ensure implementation of the targeted arms embargo.

Terrorism

The Security Council continued to stress the need to address the illicit trafficking in and supply of small arms and light weapons to terrorists and recognized that terrorist organizations could benefit from transnational organized crime, including the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons. In December, the Security Council issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2022/7) in which it noted with grave concern that terrorists and terrorist groups raised, moved and transferred funds through a variety of means, including proceeds of criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, extortion, the illicit trade and trafficking in cultural property, persons, drugs and small arms and light weapons, and reaffirmed that Member States have obligations, including those in its resolutions 1373 (2001) and 2462 (2019) to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and to refrain from providing any form of support, active or passive, to entities or persons involved in terrorist acts. The Security Council also acknowledged that, in specific contexts and regions, terrorists may benefit from organized crime, such as the trafficking in arms, among other illicit activities.

Effective weapons and ammunition management in a changing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration context

Throughout 2022, the Department of Peace Operations and the Office for Disarmament Affairs continued to implement a joint initiative on “Effective Weapons and Ammunition Management in a Changing Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Context”. Through the joint project, the partners aim to support disarmament, demobilization and reintegration practitioners in designing and implementing tailored weapons and ammunition management activities linked to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes in line with the latest international arms-control standards and guidelines.

Through the initiative, the Department of Peace Operations and the Office for Disarmament Affairs continued working together to develop relevant policy and guidance. In March, together with the Department of Operational Support, the partner offices released a standard operating procedure as a blueprint for developing context-specific, mission-level guidance on integrating weapons and ammunition management into disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes. Intended for United Nations peacekeeping operations as well as special political missions, the standard operating procedure was available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.

A centrepiece of the project is the United Nations Handbook developed for practioners in the field of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration practitioners, Effective Weapons and Ammunition Management in a Changing Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Context, published in its second edition in 2021. Translations of the Handbook into French, Spanish and Arabic were published in 2022, making the guidance accessible to even more practitioners. Additionaly, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the Department of Peace Operations and the Office for Disarmament Affairs compiled key information from the Handbook in an interactive publication available for online and offline use. The United Nations partners also released revised English and French versions of an online course with the same title. The course, available on the Institute’s e-learning platform, was designed to familiarize participants with the basic content of the second edition of the handbook to ensure that key theoretical knowledge is accessible to a wide array of practitioners.

In mission and non-mission settings, the project’s joint technical assistance mechanism continued to provide weapons and ammunition management support related to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. In partnership with the Lake Chad Basin Commission secretariat, the Department of Peace Operations and the Office for Disarmament Affairs produced a study on weapons and ammunition dynamics in the Lake Chad Basin region, available in English and French. Within the framework of the joint project, the United Nations also continued to provide assistance on weapons and ammunition management to national authorities in Haiti, including for finalizing a draft law on arms and ammunition, developing a national action plan aligned with the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, and producing a baseline assessment of the country’s weapons and ammunition management practices.

Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium

The Modular Small-arms-control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) consists of 22 modules that offer practical guidance on small-arms-control measures. Governments and civil society organizations have made wide use of the publicly available modules, which together provide guidance on managing and controlling small arms throughout their life cycle. Developing and reviewing the modules is the responsibility of technical experts around the world, including individuals from civil society, industry and international organizations who form a dedicated expert reference group.

MOSAIC helps to achieve the objectives of key global agreements aimed at preventing the illicit trade, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. Moreover, implementing the MOSAIC guidance can support efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In its resolution 77/71 of 7 December on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, the General Assembly again noted the role of web-based tools developed by the Secretariat, including MOSAIC. The Assembly also noted the utility of those tools in assessing progress made in implementing the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

MOSAIC modules continued to support training activities, particularly by the regional centres of the Office for Disarmament Affairs.

United Nations Coordinating Action on Small Arms

The United Nations Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) is an inter-agency mechanism that draws on the diverse and specialized expertise of partners within the United Nations system and ensures coherent approaches to small-arms control. In recent years, the mechanism expanded its scope to include issues related to managing ammunition stockpiles, addressing the arms trade and reducing armed violence. A total of 24 United Nations partners participated in the mechanism’s work,[7] jointly considering issues from the perspectives of economic and social development, human rights, disarmament, organized crime, counter-terrorism, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, public health, environment, gender and children, and other fields.

On behalf of the United Nations system, the mechanism collectively delivered statements at the meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition in May and the eighth Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons in June.

The mechanism also drafted and adopted a concept note on national ownership, the guiding principle for United Nations partners involved in integrating arms control into national sustainable development frameworks. The mechanism prepared the concept note pursuant to decision 2020/28 of the Secretary-General’s Executive Committee, by which the Committee affirmed the Coordinating Action on Small Arms as the common platform for United Nations efforts on small arms and light weapons. Notably, the principle of national ownership played a role in dialogues between the mechanism and national development authorities, including in Cameroon, Colombia, Nepal and Timor-Leste.

In addition, the mechanism continued to oversee processes to adopt MOSAIC modules at the working level. Furthermore, it discussed and exchanged information on the following:

• Relevant developments in the Human Rights Council
• Updates from the United Nations SaferGuard programme, including on the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines
• Implementation of the project on weapons and ammunition management in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration context
• Outcomes of the Working Group on Firearms
• Progress of the project to address the nexus of counter-terrorism, arms control and criminal justice
• United Nations efforts to support the African Union initiative on Silencing the Guns in Africa
• Operations of the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) and the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR).

Firearms Protocol and related intergovernmental processes

The Firearms Protocol[8] was adopted on 31 May 2001 by the General Assembly to promote, facilitate and strengthen cooperation among States parties in order to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components, and ammunition.

Commission on Narcotic Drugs

On 18 March, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs adopted resolution 65/2 (E/2022/28, pp. 7–10), in which the Commission underlined the importance of addressing, in an integrated manner, the global challenge posed by the multifaceted links between illicit drug trafficking and illicit trafficking in firearms, including through coordinated border management strategies, enhanced operational capacities, information exchange, judicial cooperation, and data collection and analysis. The Commission also encouraged Member States to mainstream gender perspectives and recognized the importance of victim-centred approaches.

Working Group on Firearms

The open-ended intergovernmental Working Group on Firearms, which meets on an annual basis, was established by the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as a standing mechanism of the Conference.

On 4 and 5 May, the Working Group on Firearms held its ninth meeting in a hybrid format in Vienna. The United Nations Secretariat prepared a background paper (CTOC/COP/WG.6/2022/2) on the theme of the meeting, “Preventing and combating the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in ammunition”. Building on the provisions of the Firearms Protocol, the Working Group adopted a report (CTOC/COP/WG.6/2022/4) containing a number of recommendations.

Furthermore, based on a proposal submitted by the Secretariat (CTOC/COP/WG.6/2022/3), the Working Group discussed and adopted a multi-year workplan. The ninth meeting also considered a presentation by the Secretariat (CTOC/COP/WG.6/2022/CRP.1) on the process to review the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols.

Eleventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

The eleventh Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime took place, in a hybrid format, in Vienna from 17 to 21 October. The Conference adopted resolution 11/6 (CTOC/COP/2022/9, pp. 26–32) on strengthening international cooperation to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. In the resolution, the Conference, inter alia, welcomed the formation of the Firearms Trafficking Section within the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Conference further emphasized the need to enhance cooperation and coordination among the relevant United Nations bodies to assist States in preventing and combating the engagement of organized criminal groups, which supply firearms, their parts and components and ammunition to terrorists and foreign terrorist fighters. The Conference also took note of the “goIFAR” software developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to support the record-keeping efforts of States that request assistance. Furthermore, it requested that Office to develop a new study on firearms trafficking, as well as regional studies and analyses.

Saving Lives Entity: An innovative, comprehensive approach to sustainable security and development

The Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) is a United Nations funding facility established in 2020 under a commitment in the Secretary-General’s 2018 Agenda for Disarmament. It is the product of a collaboration between the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme in consultation with the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund. By addressing both the demand and supply sides of the illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms, SALIENT supports national initiatives in armed violence reduction with a holistic and transformative approach. Its work incorporates a gender lens: 30 per cent of the total project budget is allocated to activities in direct pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In 2022, SALIENT implementation continued in Cameroon, Jamaica and South Sudan. In Jamaica, the funding facility supported the training of 45 at-risk youth, 44 per cent of them women, on life skills to facilitate peaceful conflict resolution and reduce armed gang violence in the country. SALIENT also supported national discussions on preventing arms in schools; of the 83 Government representatives who participated, 80 per cent were women. In South Sudan, a small-arms baseline and perception survey took place as a starting point for planned targeted interventions. In Cameroon, civil society and media organizations received training aimed at raising awareness of the impact of armed violence on vulnerable groups. Furthermore, in conjunction with those activities, an in-person exploratory scoping mission was carried out in Honduras in November to identify national priorities for reducing armed violence and addressing small arms and light weapons.

The year also saw developments within the funding facility’s two managing entities. A Project Coordinator and a Programme Associate joined the SALIENT Project Coordination Team in September, enhancing its capacity. The Team subsequently established a mechanism to directly inform partners with respect to new developments related to the funding facility.

Meanwhile, the SALIENT Programme Board held its second meeting on 1 November, bringing together 41 participants from five United Nations agencies, three beneficiary States and five donor countries. Participants shared recommendations on the future trajectory of the funding facility, and the Board — one of the two SALIENT managing entities together with the Project Coordination Team — consulted with the Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) in performing its advisory role.

Despite initial delays owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, SALIENT is generating growing global catalytic effects impacts that are attracting new partners who share its vision of security with a focus on development. In 2022, Finland became the seventh SALIENT donor, joining France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland. Future contributions will make it possible to further broaden the scope and transformative impact of SALIENT.

United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation

The United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR) is a multi-donor funding mechanism to support small-scale, theme-focused, quick-impact projects that promote and support the implementation of multilateral conventional arms and arms transparency instruments. Administered by the Office for Disarmament Affairs, UNSCAR has successfully mobilized international assistance, particularly for implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Awarding grants through an annual competitive process, UNSCAR has funded 113 projects that have benefited a total of 147 countries since its establishment in 2013. The 2021–2022 funding cycle received support from Australia, Czechia, Finland, Germany and Slovakia; and 10 proposals were selected, of which eight projects were eventually funded.

Key achievements from the UNSCAR projects implemented in the 2020–2021/22 and 2021–2022 cycles included the following:

• Marking and registering 2,189 small arms and light weapons in 22 locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Publishing advocacy materials and organizing workshops, seminars and side events to help ensure civil society support for the seventh and eighth Biennial Meetings of States on the Programme of Action
• Strengthening implementation of the Southern African Development Community Protocol and the Programme of Action by drafting a regional strategy and action plan and related standard operating procedures
• Implementing measures in El Salvador, including improvements to stockpile management, to help prevent the diversion of small arms and light weapons
• Developing an online training course to strengthen control on transit, transhipment and brokering
• Acting in selected African and South Asian States to help ensure understanding and support among women parliamentarians of the global process on small arms and light weapons
• Updating GunPolicy.org, a worldwide database featuring over 200,000 data points related to armed violence and gender-specific evidence with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
• Publishing guidance for Member States on reporting military expenditures using publicly available information.

In response to its 2022 call for proposals, UNSCAR received 60 applications, of which at least 10 were to be selected and implemented in 2023. All UNSCAR applications are tailored to promote the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as relevant national development frameworks. Funding proposals must also align with MOSAIC and the tools of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), implementation of the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, and the promotion of gender-responsive approaches, such as the women, peace and security agenda, in accordance with the guiding principle of assuring national ownership. Of eligible applicants, civil society organizations receive priority in support of their critical role as the driving force of arms control issues in global and regional multilateral negotiations.

UNSCAR continued to exchange information with the Arms Trade Treaty Voluntary Trust Fund throughout 2022, aiming to avoid duplication in funding and identify synergies in the impacts of their respective activities. The Office for Disarmament Affairs also ensured complementarities between the activities funded through UNSCAR and the multifaceted, development-integrated, country-specific projects supported by SALIENT. For example, in October, the organizers of an UNSCAR-funded regional workshop invited the coordinator of the SALIENT project in Jamaica, seeking to exchange relevant information and explore synergies in the outcomes of their projects.

Ammunition

Throughout 2022, States actively engaged in multilateral deliberations to tackle the dual challenges of poorly managed ammunition: unplanned explosion and diversion. In particular, a new open-ended working group began its work to elaborate a set of political commitments as a new global framework that will address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management.

The United Nations SaferGuard programme, managed by the Office for Disarmament Affairs, also continued its efforts to promote the application of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines to assist States in advancing safe and secure ammunition management.

Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition

By its resolution 76/233, “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus”, the General Assembly established an open-ended working group to elaborate a set of political commitments as a new global framework that will address existing gaps in through-life ammunition management, also known as the Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition.

During its organizational session, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 7 and 8 February, the Group elected Albrecht von Wittke (Germany) as Chair by acclamation and adopted an agenda for its substantive sessions (A/CONF.239/2022/1/Rev.1). Following informal consultations during the organizational session and the intersessional period, the Group agreed to apply, mutatis mutandis, the rules of procedure of the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects to the activities of the Working Group (A/CONF.192/16).

At the opening of the first substantive session, held from 23 to 27 May at United Nations Headquarters, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs reiterated that the Working Group presented an important opportunity to close the gap at the international level with the establishment of a global instrument that could support the prevention of unplanned explosions and diversion of ammunition, and to address the issue in a comprehensive manner. At that first session, the Group took stock of the state of play with regard to through-life ammunition management, discussing the observations and recommendations of the 2020–2021 Group of Governmental Experts on problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus (A/76/324).

The second substantive session, held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 15 to 19 August, was focused on elaborating political commitments as a new global framework on ammunition management, including for international cooperation and assistance. States expressed robust support for a new global framework, acknowledging the need for coordinated action at different levels — global, regional and national — to ensure the safety and security of ammunition. In their statements, States voiced concerns with respect to the diversion of conventional ammunition to unauthorized recipients and over unplanned explosions at munition sites. To address those dual risks, States supported a comprehensive approach for elaborating a set of political commitments that cover safety and security aspects in every stage of ammunition management.

At the first and second substantive sessions, a dedicated informal meeting was held in a hybrid format for statements by international and regional organizations, followed by civil society.

Following the first and second substantive sessions, as well as informal, intersessional consultations, States determined that, owing to the complexity of the topic, the third substantive session scheduled in February 2023 might not be enough to enable the Working Group to fulfil its mandate. Therefore, on 30 December, the General Assembly adopted decision 77/547, “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus”, mandating an additional, fourth substantive session of five days in New York in 2023.

The Group is expected to submit a report on its work, including recommendations on a set of political commitments as a new global framework on conventional ammunition, to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session.

Activities related to the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines and the United Nations SaferGuard programme

Ammunition Management Advisory Team

The Ammunition Management Advisory Team, a joint initiative of the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, continued to provide technical advice and assistance in ammunition management in accordance with international standards — namely, the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines.

In 2022, the Advisory Team supported numerous actors in assessing and strengthening capacities for safe and secure ammunition stockpiles. It extended assistance to Albania, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kosovo,[9] Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Peru and the Republic of Moldova. It also provided support to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) and the United States European Command. For example, responding to a request from SEESAC, the Advisory Team assessed ammunition facilities in North Macedonia and provided technical advice on the development of explosive limit licences. Together, those activities contributed to the implementation of Action 22 of the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament on securing excessive and poorly maintained stockpiles.

Validation process

Under the United Nations SaferGuard programme, the Office for Disarmament Affairs continued to promote the application of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines, including by advancing a validation process aimed at building a diverse roster of ammunition management experts with knowledge and skills compatible with the Guidelines.

In July, the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Ammunition Management Advisory Team held a validation exercise for Arabic-speaking experts in Dubai. Six experts from four countries successfully completed the process and were added to the roster. The addition of those experts further diversified the roster and enhanced the SaferGuard programme’s ability to respond to requests from States for assistance in addressing issues related to ammunition stockpiles under the quick-response mechanism.

Technical Review Board

After the publication of Version 3 of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines in 2021, the updated Guidelines were released in Arabic in late 2022. The French translation was near completion as at the end of the year.

In November, the United Nations SaferGuard Technical Review Board and the Strategic Coordination Group[10]held their annual meeting in Geneva. In addition to exchanging information on projects taking place in the framework of the SaferGuard programme, participants provided technical input and feedback on implementation support tools and resources currently in development for the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines. The members of the Technical Review Board and Strategic Coordination Group also reflected on gaps and recommendations for the further application of the Guidelines and discussed technical amendments to Version 3 that could be made before the formal update in five years.

Ammunition management in United Nations peace operations

In 2022, the Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations finalized a standardized training material package, including a train-the-trainer component, on weapons and ammunition management in United Nations peace operations, which aims to improve the capacities of United Nations Personnel and Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries to effectively apply the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines and MOSAIC and to implement relevant United Nations policies.

In close partnership with the Ammunition Management Advisory Team and other United Nations entities, a workshop was held in Lomé in August, during which participants from United Nations entities and rostered experts of the SaferGuard programme reviewed the materials for the training-of-trainers course in detail and provided feedback for finalization.

In November, the United Nations Mine Action Service collaborated with the Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Ammunition Management Advisory Team and the Swiss Armed Forces to organize a two-week United Nations training on weapons and ammunition management in Stans, Switzerland, to pilot the specialized training materials package with the participation of 13 participants from nine troop-contributing countries. The pilot training confirmed that the standardized training materials are appropriately designed to achieve the desired outcome.

Improvised explosive devices

Improvised explosive devices continued to pose a threat to civilians and humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel throughout 2022, with incidents recorded across regions in the context of armed conflict, crime and terrorism. In his annual report on children and armed conflict (A/76/871), released in June, the Secretary-General reported that over 25 per cent of recorded child casualties resulted from improvised explosive devices, explosive remnants of war and landmines, noting a steady increase in the number of children killed or maimed by such weapons. In Afghanistan, the leading causes of civilian casualties documented by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan between September and December 2022 were improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance (S/2022/916). Somalia also saw a continuous increase in the number of casualties from improvised explosive devices. In 2021, 669 Somalis were killed by improvised explosive devices and explosive remnants of war, up from 501 in 2020. In the first six months of 2022, there had already been at least 855 casualties recorded from improvised explosive devices (S/2022/754).

Attacks on peacekeepers by the utilization of explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices also persisted. In Mali, the United Nations documented a significant increase in the total number of improvised explosive device attacks in the period from July 2021 to June 2022, with 213 registered incidents compared with 149 during the same period the previous year (S/2022/446). While the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali remained the most dangerous peacekeeping mission, missions in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to face a sustained and ongoing threat of improvised explosive devices. In the Central African Republic, incidents involving explosive devices continued to rise in 2022, with 54 recorded incidents resulting in 12 people killed and 46 injured.

Security Council

The Security Council remained seized of the issue of improvised explosive devices throughout the year. In September, the Council held a meeting under its agenda item on United Nations peacekeeping operations, with the participation of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, who underscored the continued impact of attacks with improvised explosive devices on United Nations peace operations, especially in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali. Noting the progress made in improving the capabilities of missions to counter such devices, he called for Member States’ support to fully address the recommendations of the independent strategic review of United Nations peacekeeping operations’ responses to the threat of improvised explosive devices (S/2021/1042).

When extending the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali in June through resolution 2640 (2022), the Security Council welcomed the independent strategic review, noting that its recommendations may be useful guidance for the Mission’s troop- and police-contributing countries. The Council also called upon the Malian authorities to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations, regional and subregional organizations, civil society, and the private sector in order to give the most appropriate response to the explosive ordnance threat.

In July, the Security Council adopted resolution 2648 (2022), extending the arms embargo against the Central African Republic. The Council expressed concern over the increasing use of explosive ordnance, including improvised explosive devices and landmines, accounting for a growing number of civilian casualties and disrupting humanitarian access, and requested the Panel of Experts to devote special attention to the analysis of such threats. Pursuant to resolution 2588 (2021), the Panel of Experts provided its final report (S/2022/527) for the period June 2021 to May 2022, stressing a marked increase in incidents of injury or death of civilians caused by improvised explosive devices and anti-personnel mines and noting that the presence of improvised explosive devices limited humanitarian access to vulnerable people.

In renewing the arms embargo measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo by adopting resolution 2641 (2022), the Security Council decided that the sanctions measures, including the arms embargo, shall apply to individuals and entities designated to be involved in the production, manufacture or use of improvised explosive devices, or in the commission, planning, ordering, aiding, abetting or otherwise assistance of attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with improvised explosive devices.

In February, the Security Council adopted resolution 2626 (2022) on the situation in Afghanistan, expressing deep concern as to the presence of landmines, improvised explosive devices and explosive remnants of war. The Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to include assessing the explosive ordnance threat and its impact on civilians, as well as advising and coordinating explosive ordnance threat mitigation measures in support of humanitarian and development initiatives.

When extending the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya through resolution 2656 (2022), adopted in October, the Security Council expressed concern at the humanitarian situation in Libya, including the inability of internally displaced people to return to their homes due to the presence of explosive hazards. The Council also expressed concern at the threat posed by the diversion and proliferation of arms and ammunition in Libya and called on key Libyan institutions, with support from the United Nations, to take steps to clear explosive ordnance and explosive remnants of war from hazardous areas.

In November, the Security Council adopted resolution 2662 (2022), renewing the arms embargo on Somalia and the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Somalia. In the resolution, the Council underscored the need to degrade Al-Shabaab through targeted sanctions and disrupting its finances, as well as by reducing the threat posed by improvised explosive devices. In that regard, the Security Council decided that States shall continue to prevent the direct or indirect sale or transfer of improvised explosive device components. In its final report (S/2022/754), issued in October, the Panel of Experts on Somalia concluded that Al-Shabaab continued to have access to an uninterrupted illicit supply of improvised explosive device components, weapons and ammunition, as some of the ammunition captured was manufactured as recently as 2020.

In relation to its agenda item on Yemen, the Security Council adopted resolution 2624 (2022) in February, renewing the arms embargo and adding the Houthis as an entity subject to the measures of the targeted arms embargo for having engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Yemen, including the indiscriminate use of landmines and improvised explosive devices. In its final report (S/2022/50), issued in January 2022, the Panel of Experts on Yemen continued to observe the use and manufacture of improvised explosive devices by the Houthis. It reported that most types of uncrewed aerial vehicles, waterborne improvised explosive devices and short-range rockets were being assembled in Houthi-controlled areas using locally available materials, as well as commercial components, such as engines and electronics, sourced from abroad drawing upon a complex network of intermediaries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

General Assembly

In December, the General Assembly adopted the sixth iteration of its resolution entitled “Countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices” (77/64). France and Australia, the lead sponsors, made technical updates that reflected ongoing work in the field, such as the development of technical guidelines to facilitate the implementation of Security Council resolution 2370 (2017) and related international standards and good practices on preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons. The resolution also contained references to updates of several United Nations peacekeeping manuals to incorporate the United Nations Improvised Explosive Device Disposal Standards, supporting the capacity of peacekeepers to effectively address the risks posed by improvised explosive devices.

The General Assembly also took note of the report of the independent strategic review on the responses of United Nations peacekeeping operations to improvised explosive devices (S/2021/1042) and encouraged sustained efforts towards the implementation of its recommendations. Reflecting current policy developments, the Assembly welcomed the adoption by the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons of the updated Declaration on Improvised Explosive Devices (CCW/AP.II/CONF.23/6, annex V) at the twenty-third annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties. In addition, the General Assembly asked the Secretary-General to issue his next report on improvised explosive devices for its seventy-ninth session.

Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

States also took up the issue of improvised explosive devices at two meetings held in the framework of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-traps and Other Devices as amended on 3 May 1996, also known as Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (for more information, see “Amended Protocol II: Group of Experts and twenty-fourth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties”).

United Nations Mine Action Service

In 2022, the United Nations Mine Action Service supported the implementation of recommendations from an independent strategic review conducted the previous year (S/2021/1042) on the readiness of police- and troop-contributing countries to operate within environments affected by improvised explosive devices; procedures at the Headquarters level to centralize information management processes; and the development of strategies and processes at the Headquarters and mission levels.

To help coordinate between the United Nations Headquarters and various peacekeeping missions, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations and the Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Operational Support appointed the Mine Action Service and the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division to establish and co-chair an Explosive Ordnance/Improvised Explosive Device Threat Mitigation Working Group. In 2022, that Working Group identified specific measures to implement recommendations from the independent strategic review; as at the end of the year, over 80 per cent of those measures were either complete or in progress.

For its part, the Mine Action Service focused on measures to support police- and troop-contributing countries in further adapting and refining their predeployment and in-mission training. In particular, it undertook activities to provide increased in-mission training to high-risk troop-contributing countries; provided critical support to mission- and force-level standing working groups on countering improvised explosive devices; and supplied technical guidance in developing forensic technical exploitation capabilities to enable proactive and preventative measures against related threats.

At United Nations Headquarters, the Mine Action Service’s Threat Mitigation Team supported the Office of Military Affairs and the Department of Operational Support in addressing gaps in the capacities of contingent peacekeeping units. Specifically, it reviewed statements of unit requirements and lists of contingent-owned equipment to ensure that adequate technical capabilities were available to high-risk missions. The Mobile Training Team, within the Threat Mitigation Team, also collaborated with the Office of Military Affairs and the Integrated Training Service to support priority police- and troop-contributing countries in validating national and regional training centres.

Explosive weapons in populated areas

Throughout 2022, the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas remained a key concern for States, civil society and the United Nations. The use of explosive weapons with wide-area impacts in population centres continued to result in devastating harm to civilians and the destruction of civilian objects, including health facilities, schools and water supplies. Independent research published during the year revealed that, when explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 90 per cent of those killed and injured were civilians, compared with 10 per cent in other areas. Overall, 2022 saw a 73 per cent increase in incidents of global explosive weapon use compared to 2021, and incidents of explosive weapons used in populated areas increased by 108 per cent between 2021 and 2022. Civilian casualties from such use were particularly high in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine and Yemen, according to Action on Armed Violence, an independent research organization.

The Secretary-General, in his annual report to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2022/381), noted that in 2021 alone, 1,234 incidents involving the use of explosive weapons were recorded in populated areas in 21 States affected by conflict, resulting in over ten thousand victims, 89 per cent of whom were civilians. The Secretary-General further stressed that civilians suffer devastating harm from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, both in the immediate aftermath and in the long term, including lifelong disabilities and grave psychological trauma, even when such weapons are used in compliance with international humanitarian law. He urged parties to avoid altogether the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas.

Informal consultative process to develop a political declaration

In 2022, Member States concluded their efforts to develop a political declaration on the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Ireland, which continued to lead the process, resumed negotiations on a revised draft declaration in April and presented the final revised version of the declaration to Member States and international and civil society organizations on 17 June, inviting delegations to express their views on and support for the text.

The Office for Disarmament Affairs delivered a joint statement on behalf of several United Nations entities, supporting the final text of the declaration, noting that it was an important collective step forward to better protect civilians from the increasing urbanization of armed conflict and reiterating the urgent need for States to commit to an avoidance principle, in line with the long-held position of the Secretary-General.

In the lead-up to the signing ceremony, the heads of the Office for Disarmament Affairs, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross issued a joint press release urging States to support the political declaration and step-up global support to protect civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas.

On 18 November 2022, Ireland hosted a high-level international conference in Dublin to adopt the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The Declaration was endorsed by 83 States at the time of the Conference, many of which attended the event. The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs attended on behalf of the Secretary-General and delivered remarks, appealing to endorsing States to go beyond the Declaration’s operational commitment and commit to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and ultimately work to remove conflict from urban areas altogether. She also underlined the immediate need for endorsing States to implement the commitments fully and in good faith, including by reviewing and adapting military policy and practice, and stressed the need for all parties to armed conflict to ultimately take combat out of populated areas entirely. At the event, Norway announced that it would host the first international conference of the Declaration in 2024.

Data collection and civilian casualty recording

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in its capacity as the custodian agency for Sustainable Development Goals Indicator 16.1.2 on conflict-related death, continued its efforts to report on incidents resulting in casualties. When possible, it collected disaggregated data by location, type of victim, weapon used and actors to whom casualties were attributed. That data has supported a range of purposes, including to support prevention efforts and inform decision-making.

Available data showed that there were at least 13,842 documented deaths directly associated with 12 of the world's deadliest armed conflicts in 2021. Among them, 11,075 were civilians, and 1 in 8 were women or children. Civilian deaths in the 12 conflicts were most often caused by multiple weapons (35 per cent), followed by heavy weapons and explosive munitions (23 per cent), and small arms and light weapons (22 per cent). This represents a change from 2020 when small arms and light weapons represented a larger proportion of the killings. Based on the available documented data, the number of civilian conflict-related deaths dropped by 17 per cent compared to 2020 and by 69 per cent compared to 2015. Although underestimated, the number of reported deaths remains unacceptably high.

In June, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 46/22 and 49/27, OHCHR presented a rigorous assessment of casualties during 10 years of conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic (A/HRC/50/68), including through a statistical analysis of available data on conflict-related deaths. Using statistical and data science methods, it estimated that a total of 306,887 civilian casualties occurred (between 281,443 and 337,971 with a credible interval of 95 per cent), including 163,537 undocumented deaths. Notably, thanks to input from a range of other organizations, OHCHR was able to provide a statistical estimate of the total number of casualties, documented and undocumented, directly resulting from and during an active conflict. The data were also disaggregated by location, age, and sex.

Also in June, by its resolution 50/11, the Human Rights Council requested OHCHR to prepare a comprehensive report on the impact of casualty recording on the promotion and protection of human rights. That report would address relevant practices, in particular the role of casualty recording in upholding and fulfilling the rights of victims of armed conflict, post-conflict situations, and gross violations of international human rights law, with a view to making recommendations to States, mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and relevant stakeholders. An interactive dialogue was expected to follow the report’s delivery to the Council at its fifty-third session in June 2023.

Export controls

Wassenaar Arrangement

The twenty-sixth Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary meeting, the first since 2019 owing to constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic, was chaired by Eoin O'Leary (Ireland) and held in Vienna from 30 November to 1 December.

In 2022, the Wassenaar Arrangement continued to contribute to international and regional security and stability by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilizing accumulations. Work progressed on updating and improving the Wassenaar Arrangement control lists, taking into account international and regional security developments, technological change and market trends. The Wassenaar Arrangement also engaged in targeted outreach activities with non-participating States and relevant international and regional organizations in order to promote effective export controls worldwide.

The participating States of the Wassenaar Arrangement continued to exchange information on transfers of arms and dual-use goods and technologies, as well as the risks associated with potentially destabilizing arms flows to specific geographic regions of concern, including areas of conflict; reaffirmed the important role played by strong export controls and close cooperation in preventing arms diversion and the acquisition of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies by terrorists; continued a comprehensive and systematic review of the Wassenaar Arrangement control lists to ensure their ongoing relevance; adopted new export controls in a number of areas; updated existing controls regarding high-performance computers, certain types of lasers, sub-munitions and grenades, aircraft ground equipment, navigational satellite jamming equipment and inertial measurement equipment; confirmed the validity of previously agreed controls on sub-orbital craft, lawful interception technology and digital investigation tools; shared experiences in national export control implementation; updated the “Best Practices regarding Very Sensitive List Items” originally adopted in 2000; updated the “End-User Assurances Commonly Used — Consolidated Indicative List”, last amended in 2005, and identified other existing guidelines for possible updating as appropriate in 2023; maintained informal technical contacts with the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to address control list issues at the expert level; and reviewed the progress of current membership applications.

The Participating States of the Wassenaar Arrangement agreed to appoint György Molnár (Hungary) as the next Head of the Wassenaar Arrangement secretariat, effective 2 January 2023. On 1 January 2023, India would become the Chair of the Arrangement’s plenary, Argentina would become the Chair of the General Working Group, Mexico would become the Chair of the Experts Group, and Switzerland would continue to provide the Chair of the Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting. The Wassenaar Arrangement planned to hold its next regular plenary meeting in Vienna in December 2023.

Transparency in conventional arms transfers and military expenditures

United Nations Register of Conventional Arms

The year 2022 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Member States continued to report their imports and exports of conventional weapons in seven categories: battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft and unmanned combat aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and rotary-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicles, warships, missiles and missile launchers. States also submitted information on their imports and exports of small arms and light weapons under the “seven plus one” option, as recommended by the 2019 Group of Governmental Experts on the Register. States were also requested to provide background information on national arms transfer policies, as well as additional data on military holdings and procurement through national production.

The reports submitted by States continue to be made available on the Office for Disarmament Affairs' interactive, map-based database (www.unroca.org). The platform is entitled “Transparency in the Global Reported Arms Trade” and features information dating back to 1992.

Annual reporting to the Register

In 2022, 58 States or 30 per cent of Member States submitted reports on their transfers of conventional arms during the previous calendar year (see also figure 3.3). Those reports were added to the relevant report of the Secretary-General, as well as to the aforementioned electronic database. The number of reports submitted in 2022 represented an increase from 2021 when 42 reports were received. One factor driving the rise in participation was a new information-sharing arrangement between the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat and the Office for Disarmament Affairs, by which States parties to the Treaty can share their annual reports with the Office to be considered a submission to the Register.

Of the 58 reports received in 2022, 12 were “nil” reports, indicating that the reporting Member States had not undertaken any transfers of arms in the Register's seven categories during 2021. Among the other 46 reports, 32 contained information on exports and 31 contained information on imports of major conventional arms. In addition, 20 States provided background information on military holdings, 5 States submitted details on procurement of weapons through national production, and 43 States shared information concerning international transfers of small arms and light weapons.

With regard to participation in the Register, a long-standing pattern of regional variation continued through 2022. The number of reports submitted by African States rose from 0 in 2021 to 5 in 2022, while the number of reports by States in Latin America and the Caribbean stood at 4, remaining unchanged from 2021. The number of reporting States in Asia and the Pacific increased from 5 in 2021 to 8 in 2022. Western European and other States submitted 24 reports, five more than in 2021, and the number of reports submitted by Eastern European States rose from 13 in 2021 to 15 in 2022.

Group of Governmental Experts

In 2022, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 74/53, the United Nations Secretariat convened a Group of Governmental Experts to perform a triennial review of the continuing operation of the Register and its further development.[11]

In its final report (A/77/126), the Group outlined recommendations addressed both to Member States and the United Nations Secretariat. It called for the addition of a new subcategory, V(b), for rotary-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicles; a description of small arms and light weapons for reporting under the “seven-plus-one formula”; reference reporting forms for information on procurement through national production and military holdings; updated simplified “nil” reporting forms; the establishment of an “informal group of friends”; and a unique social media identity for the Register.

Trends in global arms transfers

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which maintains a database on the global arms trade, the volume of international arms transfers fell by 5.1 per cent between 2013–2017 and 2018–2022. When controlling for annual fluctuations in the data and comparing five-year averages, the five largest exporters during the most recent five-year period were the United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and Germany. The five largest importers of major arms were India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia and China.

Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures

United Nations Report on Military Expenditures

The General Assembly created the United Nations Report on Military Expenditures in 1980 to enhance transparency in military spending. States are requested to provide information on their annual military expenditures using templates developed by the United Nations Secretariat. Member States that do not allocate any funds to military activities may submit a nil report. Those that do maintain armed forces are encouraged to submit either a standardized or simplified form, both of which disaggregate spending by service branches and function. Member States wishing to report only total military expenditure may complete the “single-figure” form, which was adopted following a recommendation by the 2017 Group of Governmental Experts.

The reports submitted by Member States are made available by the Office for Disarmament Affairs through a report of the Secretary-General and via an interactive, map-based online database (https://milex.un-arm.org).

Annual reporting on military expenditures

In 2022, 42 States or 22 per cent of all United Nations Member States submitted information to the United Nations Report on Military Expenditures, compared to 44 reports received in 2021. Of the reports submitted in 2022, one was a nil form. Three provided a single figure for military expenditures. The majority of reporting States, amounting to 21, used the standardized form, which offers the highest degree of disaggregation and detail. The remaining 17 reports were based on the simplified form.

The participation rate continued to vary by region. The number of reports submitted by African States decreased from one in 2021 to zero in 2022. Participation among Asian-Pacific States remained the same at five submissions in both 2021 and 2022. The number of reports submitted by Eastern European States decreased to 19 from 20. Of the States in Latin America and the Caribbean, seven provided information in 2022, up from five in 2021. Submissions also increased among Western European and other States, from 14 in 2021 to 15 in 2022.

Trends in global military spending

According to data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending hit an all-time high of over $2.2 trillion in 2022. This represented a real-term increase of 3.7 per cent compared to the previous year and an increase of 19 per cent over the course of the previous decade. The top military spenders in 2022 were the United States, China, the Russian Federation, India and Saudi Arabia. Together, those States accounted for 63 per cent of total military expenditures.

Confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms

Military confidence-building measures are planned procedures involving the national defence organizations of States that aim to prevent hostilities, avert escalation, reduce military tension, and ultimately build mutual trust and strong and secure relations between countries. As such, military confidence-building measures continue to be recognized as an essential tool for preventing and resolving conflict.

In accordance with the General Assembly’s biennial resolution entitled “Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms” (77/72), the Office for Disarmament Affairs continued its efforts to engage with interested Member States and regional organizations to develop and advance military confidence-building measures, as well as to strengthen understanding of the topic.

The Office continued to maintain its online repository of military confidence-building measures, which provides a list of the most tested and trusted measures in the areas of communication and coordination, observation and verification, military constraint, training and education, and cooperation and integration.

Furthermore, in the context of Action 23 of the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, the Office for Disarmament Affairs engaged with regional organizations to equip those entities and their member States with skills and expertise to enhance their understanding and generate momentum around transparency and confidence-building measures within their respective regions.

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons entered into force in 1983 with the aim of banning or restricting for humanitarian reasons the use of weapons considered to be indiscriminate or to cause unnecessary or unjustifiable suffering. By allowing the negotiation of further protocols, the Convention provides unique flexibility to address new weapon technologies or developments in armed conflict. With Malawi’s accession to the Convention, the total number of High Contracting Parties stood at 126 as at 31 December 2022.

Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

The Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems met in Geneva for 10 days in 2022, in accordance with a decision (CCW/CONF.VI/11, decision 1, para. 42) taken by the High Contracting Parties at the sixth Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Flavio Soares Damico (Brazil) chaired the meetings of the Group in 2022.

In view of travel restrictions imposed as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which limited participation by capital-based experts, the Group’s first five-day session (7–11 March) was predominately held in an informal format at the request of one State. Although the Group was unable to address procedural matters in that format, it held substantive discussions on proposals submitted by several States, in line with its mandate from the sixth Review Conference. (CCW/CONF.VI/11, decision 1, para. 42)

Accordingly, the Group considered the different proposals that had been submitted. The proposals on “possible measures and options” included elaborating legally binding instruments under the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons; elaborating a non-legally binding instrument; clarifying the implementation of existing obligations under international law, in particular international humanitarian law; prohibiting and regulating such weapons systems on the basis of international humanitarian law; and deciding that no further legal measures are needed. Working papers on other topics were also submitted.

The Group also considered and discussed different proposals for reporting on its deliberations. Regarding possible conclusions, the Group considered affirming that it is prohibited to develop, acquire or use a system based on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems if it would be of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering; inherently indiscriminate; incapable of distinguishing between civilians, combatants and persons hors de combat; designed for attacking the civilian population; designed to cause incidental loss of civilian life or injury to civilian objects that would invariably be excessive in relation to the concrete advantage expected to be gained; designed in such a way that its effects in attacks cannot be anticipated and controlled, as may be required by the principles of distinction and proportionality, or in such a way that attacks carried out with reliance upon autonomous functions are conducted outside the responsibility of the human command under which the system was used; or is otherwise incapable of being used in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The Group further deliberated on the need for measures to mitigate the risk of unintended engagements, as well as to help minimize incidental loss of life, injuries to civilians and damage to civilian objects resulting from the use of other weapons systems based on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems. Such potential steps may include measures across the life cycle of the weapons system to control, limit, or otherwise affect the types of targets that the system can engage; control, limit, or otherwise affect the duration, geographical scope, and scale of operation of the system, such as the incorporation of self-destruct, self-deactivation, or self-neutralization mechanisms into munitions and weapons systems; ensure human operators are informed and empowered to effect control over the system; integrate risk assessments into the design, development, testing and deployment phases of the life cycle of a weapons system; reduce automation bias in systems operators, as well as unintended bias in artificial intelligence capabilities relied upon in connection with the use of the weapons system.

However, no consensus could be reached on elaborating such conclusions and recommendations in its report (CCW/GGE.1/2022/2). The Group, therefore, agreed on a reduced set of conclusions and recommendations and, notably, to continue its work to intensify the consideration of proposals and elaborate possible measures by consensus. In developing such potential measures, the Group would take into account, inter alia, the example of existing protocols within the Convention, as well as other options related to the normative and operational framework on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems, building upon earlier recommendations and conclusions.

Amended Protocol II: Group of Experts and twenty-fourth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties

The Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-traps and Other Devices, as amended on 3 May 1996, also known as Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, was designed to limit indiscriminate harm from such weapons by requiring all feasible precautions by parties to protect civilians from their use. As at the end of 2022, the Protocol had 106 High Contracting Parties.

On 20 and 21 July, the Amended Protocol II Group of Experts met in Geneva to prepare for the twenty-fourth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Protocol. Building on its work on the matter since 2009, the Group, under the overall responsibility of the Coordinators (Colombia and France), held discussions on improvised explosive devices, including a general exchange of views and thematic panel discussions on new types of improvised explosive devices, methods of clearance, risk education and other methods to protect civilians, updates on relevant developments in other forums addressing the threat posed by improvised devices, and national and regional responses.

Throughout the expert discussions, delegations expressed concern over the proliferation and increasing use of improvised explosive devices and their detrimental impact on civilians. They also highlighted the severe humanitarian implications of improvised explosive devices, especially in urban environments, and their negative effects on security, stability and socioeconomic development. Several delegations also underscored the harm caused by improvised explosive devices to peacekeepers. To effectively respond to the growing threat from such devices, the High Contracting Parties notably called for the universalization of Amended Protocol II.

Many delegations underscored a need to prioritize developing coherent regional approaches to counter the multifaceted threats posed by improvised explosive devices. Accordingly, High Contracting Parties stressed the need to create synergies among national, regional and international capacity-building efforts, improve institutional capacity, and promote public awareness. Furthermore, they commended the ongoing discussions within the Amended Protocol II framework and called for the continued exchange of best practices, with the aim of reaching a common understanding of the threat posed by improvised explosive devices. Several delegations also highlighted the usefulness of the voluntary self-assessment tool developed by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research to assist High Contracting Parties in identifying gaps and challenges in their national regulations and preparedness regarding improvised explosive devices, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 73/67. Following the meeting, the Coordinators issued a report on the relevant discussions (CCW/AP.II/CONF.24/2).

On 15 November, Yuri Borissov Sterk (Bulgaria) presided over the twenty-fourth Annual Conference of the Amended Protocol II. Of the 106 High Contracting Parties to the Protocol, 67 participated in the Conference, along with three High Contracting Parties to the Convention and one signatory State. Other participants included the United Nations Mine Action Service (on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action), the European Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat. (For the list of participants, see CCW/AP.II/CONF.24/INF.1)

The Conference concluded with the consideration and adoption of its final document (CCW/AP.II/CONF.24/5). It decided that the Group of Experts would keep the same mandate for the coming year and would therefore continue its voluntary information exchange on risk education methods, campaigns or practices in the area of improvised explosive devices. Other information to be shared would address the following topics: (a) development and consolidation of coherent and coordinated national and regional responses to counter the threat represented by improvised explosive devices; (b) new types of improvised explosive devices, including trigger mechanisms, new components and detonators; (c) methods of clearing improvised explosive devices, with a particular focus on urban environments, as well as technical innovations and new means for clearing improvised explosive devices as part of humanitarian action; and (d) methods to protect civilians from improvised explosive devices.

Furthermore, the Conference decided that the Group of Experts should keep apprised of relevant developments in other forums addressing the threat of improvised explosive devices with a view to ensuring complementarity of efforts, as well as raising awareness on topics such as methods to prevent the diversion of precursors, ammunition, explosives and components that might be used to manufacture such devices.

The Conference also decided that the 2023 session of the Group of Experts would take place over two days on dates to be decided by the 2022 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties. In addition, the Conference nominated a representative of the Non-Aligned Movement to be President-designate of the twenty-fifth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties, scheduled for 2023.

Following the Conference, the President submitted a working paper (CCW/AP.II/CONF-24/WP.1/Rev.1) in which he summarized discussions during the meeting on compliance issues that had eluded consensus.

Protocol V: Meeting of Experts and sixteenth Conference of the High Contracting Parties

Protocol V of the Convention on explosive remnants of war was adopted in 2003 to prevent and minimize the humanitarian impact of unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive weapons, including through provisions on clearing and destroying explosive remnants of war, protecting civilians, recording the use of explosive ordnance, and providing international cooperation and assistance. Following its ratification by the Philippines in 2022, the Protocol had 97 High Contracting Parties as at the end of the year.

In preparation for the sixteenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V, a Meeting of Experts took place on 22 July, addressing the topics of universalization efforts; national reporting; article 4 of the Protocol on “recording, retaining and transmission of information and generic preventative measures”; clearance of explosive remnants of war and technical assistance, as well as victim assistance. The meeting was chaired by the President-designate of the sixteenth Annual Conference, Ignacio Sánchez de Lerín García-Ovies (Spain).

During the Meeting of Experts, the President-designate stressed that wide adherence to and full implementation of Protocol V could significantly reduce the number of civilians killed and injured during and after conflicts. High Contracting Parties echoed that statement by underscoring the importance of achieving universalization. In that regard, they further recalled the need for international cooperation to minimize the risks and effects of explosive remnants of war.

In accordance with the decisions taken by the fifteenth Annual Conference (CCW/P.V/CONF/2021/5), thematic sessions on “clearance of explosive remnants of war and technical assistance” and “victim assistance” took place, chaired by the Coordinators (Pakistan and Austria, respectively). Throughout the meeting, delegations highlighted various impacts, challenges and consequences of explosive remnants of war, in particular on civilians in urban areas. High Contracting Parties also stressed that sharing best practices — especially in the framework of Protocol V — were necessary to improve procedures concerning explosive remnants of war.

Following an initiative of the President-designate, an expert from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining delivered a presentation on the links between mine action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The representative from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining pointed out that mine action was an enabler of socioeconomic development and played a transformative role in States affected by explosive remnants of war. That point was reinforced by the Coordinator on Victim Assistance, who underlined that victim assistance was a policy requiring long-term engagement, which could help countries affected by explosive remnants of war to achieve the objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda. Following the meeting, the Coordinators issued a report on the relevant discussions held.

The sixteenth Annual Conference took place on 14 November and confirmed the election of Ignacio Sánchez de Lerín García-Ovies (Spain) as President of the Conference. During the proceedings, delegations highlighted the necessity of increasing efforts on universalization and pointed to the need for High Contracting Parties to exchange further information on victim assistance and cooperation projects. Of the 97 High Contracting Parties to Protocol V, 62 participated in the Conference, along with seven High Contracting Parties to the Convention, one signatory State and one observer State. Other participants included the United Nations Mine Action Service (on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action), the European Union, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. (For the list of participants, see CCW/P.V/CONF/2022/INF.1.)

The Conference considered a draft final document (CCW/P.V/CONF/2022/CRP.1), proposed by the President. However, due to a lack of consensus on that draft or on an alternative technical final report, the meeting concluded without adopting a final document. Decisions required to ensure the continuation of the work of the Protocol were thus passed to the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention. Furthermore, to offset the absence of a final document, the President submitted two working papers in the days following the Annual Conference (CCW/P.V/CONF/2022/WP.2 and CCW/P.V/CONF/2022/WP.3), containing a summary of the proceedings surrounding the consideration and lack of adoption of a final report of the meeting.

2022 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

The 2022 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties took place in Geneva from 16 to 18 November with Zbigniew Czech (Poland) as Chair. The Meeting drew participants from 83 High Contracting Parties, one signatory State and two States not party. Also taking part in its work were two United Nations entities, four international organizations and 12 non-governmental organizations and other entities (for the list of participants, see CCW/MSP/2022/INF.1). The Meeting concluded with the adoption of a final report (CCW/MSP/2022/7).

The Meeting of the High Contracting Parties took note of the report of the 2022 session of the Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (CCW/GGE.1/2022/2) and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein. The Meeting decided that the Group would meet in Geneva twice in 2023, first from 6 to 10 March and then from 15 to 19 May. The 2022 Meeting also agreed that the Group would continue to be chaired by Flavio Soares Damico (Brazil) (for more information, see “Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems”).

Under the agenda item “General exchange of views”, Austria, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland presented a working paper on incendiary weapons (CCW/MSP/2022/WP.3). Under the agenda item “Emerging issues in the context of the objectives and purposes of the Convention”, China presented a working paper entitled “Position Paper of the People’s Republic of China on Strengthening Ethical Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” (CCW/MSP/2022/WP.1).

In relation to the agenda item “Status of implementation of and compliance with the Convention and its Protocols”, the Implementation Support Unit provided an update on the status of national annual reporting by the High Contracting Parties in relation to the Convention and its annexed Protocols as decided at the third Review Conference in 2006 and the Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention in 2007.[12] The 2022 Meeting also reaffirmed the commitment to achieving universal adherence to and compliance with the Convention and its Protocols.

Concerning financial issues, the Meeting stressed that the payment of annual assessed contributions by the High Contracting Parties in a timely manner and in full is of utmost importance and is a prerequisite for the sustainability of the Convention. In that context, it urged all High Contracting Parties to honour their financial obligations under the Convention and decided to continue monitoring its financial situation.

Under the agenda item “Other matters”, the President of the sixteenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties of Protocol V, Ignacio Sánchez de Lerín García-Ovies (Spain), in his personal capacity, summarized the outcome of that conference and explained its lack of adoption of a final report. He also provided his views on a way forward regarding the continuation of work under Protocol V in 2023 (for more information, see “Protocol V: Meeting of Experts and sixteenth Conference of the High Contracting Parties”). In relation to the work under Protocol V, the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties requested the President of the seventeenth Annual Conference of High Contracting Parties to Protocol V,[13] on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent for the future, to hold informal open consultations on Protocol V on 8 November 2023 in lieu of the usual Meeting of Experts. The Meeting also decided to hold, as per usual practice, the seventeenth Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V on 13 November 2023 and adopted the relevant cost estimates for the work under Protocol V in 2023 (CCW/P.V/CONF/2022/4).

The Meeting decided to nominate a representative of the Group of the Non-Aligned Movement as Chair of the 2023 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention.

Work of the Implementation Support Unit of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

Due to its unstable funding situation, the Convention's Implementation Support Unit only had a temporary P-3 staff member from January to October 2022. In October, a temporary P-4 staff member joined the Unit as its head for a period of six months. The following month, at the 2022 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention, the Unit emphasized that sustainable, timely and predictable funding is required to maximize the efficiency of the Unit’s staff and operations.[14]

In 2022, the Unit assisted in implementing the decisions of the sixth Review Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention, providing support to office holders and to the Convention’s meetings and processes. The Unit briefed office holders on their responsibilities and supported them in carrying out their functions, including preparing for and chairing the intergovernmental meetings. In the area of universalization, the Implementation Support Unit, among other things, accompanied the office holders to several bilateral meetings with representatives of the High Contracting Parties to provide information on the Convention and its Protocols and their relevance to the respective State, national implementation and relevant obligations arising from adherence to the instruments.

As the substantive secretariat of the Convention, the Unit assisted the Chair of the 2022 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems in preparing official documents and supported him in drafting the final report of the Group, provided substantive guidance and organized and supported numerous informal thematic consultations and procedural matters.

In addition, the Implementation Support Unit coordinated within the United Nations Office at Geneva to contribute to prudent planning, effective organization and regular monitoring of the Convention’s activities. For example, the Unit tracked related developments in the framework of the First Committee to ensure consistency and continuity with activities under the Convention.

Furthermore, following two years of inactivity due to COVID-19, the Unit played an important role in reactivating the Convention's Sponsorship Programme[15]. The Unit worked closely with the Steering Committee to designate a coordinator, launch a call for applications and select awardees, as well as with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining to coordinate with sponsored delegates. In 2022, 17 experts received sponsorships to participate in Convention meetings.

International cooperation and assistance in support of the Convention

The European Union Council decision 2021/1694 in support of the universalization, implementation and strengthening of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons was adopted on 21 September 2021. The two-year project annexed to the decision was focused on preparing for and following up on the sixth Review Conference; universalizing the Convention; and facilitating discussions on under-explored, emerging and cross-cutting issues of relevance to the Convention.

In 2022, the Project established a network of delegates from under-represented regions — namely, Africa and Southeast Asia — with the aim of improving information-sharing and encouraging them to participate in deliberations and implementation mechanisms of the Convention. As a result of that outreach, several African States became more actively engaged in attending meetings, including through the Sponsorship Programme, and submitting national annual reports. Moreover, a workshop held in November on universalizing the Convention and its Protocols provided an opportunity to showcase the domestic ratification processes of Malawi and the Philippines, which had joined the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and its Protocol V, respectively, in 2022.

Meanwhile, webinars organized under the Project raised awareness with respect to underexplored issues and broadened the pool of stakeholders taking part in relevant discussions. In addition to attracting youth disarmament advocates and several civil society organizations that had not previously attended meetings of the Convention, the events drew a representative of the investment community who spoke at a webinar on the topic of incendiary weapons, enriching the diversity of views presented.

Lastly, the Project allowed the Office for Disarmament Affairs to conduct a comprehensive, in-depth analysis of national annual reports from High Contracting Parties to identify trends and gaps for the first time in recent years. That review formed the basis of a workshop to establish best practices and challenges in national annual reporting, as well as the development of guidelines for preparing the reports. In addition, work began on a publication to enhance the understanding of the Convention’s objectives and purposes, key provisions, history and implementation and compliance mechanism.

Convention on Cluster Munitions

The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force in 2010, prohibiting the use, development, production, transfer or stockpiling of cluster munitions under any circumstances. It also created a framework for clearing contaminated areas and destroying stockpiles, as well as providing risk-reduction education in affected communities. As at the end of 2022, the Convention had 110 States parties.[16]

Cluster munitions are defined in the Convention as “conventional munitions that are designed to disperse or release explosive submunitions” over a wide area. Undetonated submunitions become explosive remnants of war, and restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic forced isolated communities to supplement diminished livelihoods by cultivating contaminated areas and collecting metal scraps of unknown origin. Children remained the most at risk from unexploded or abandoned ordnance due to their natural interest in unfamiliar, colourful objects.

In 2022, the use of cluster munitions in Ukraine overshadowed a significant reduction in casualties observed the previous year. Cluster munition attacks on populated areas and civilian infrastructure resulted in at least 689 casualties in the first half of the year, notwithstanding any unreported incidents, according to the Cluster Munition Monitor 2022.

Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions took place from 30 August to 2 September in Geneva, pursuant to the decision of the second Review Conference (CCM/CONF/2021/6, para. 84). Aidan Liddle (United Kingdom) presided over the meeting with the participation of 74 States, as well as eight signatories and 14 observers (CCM/MSP/2022/12). The Office for Disarmament Affairs served as the secretariat of the Meeting.

At the first plenary, on 30 August, Daniel Craig, United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards, Muowffak Al-Khafaij of the Cluster Munition Coalition and the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs delivered video messages. During the same meeting, Germany, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and Switzerland were elected vice-Presidents of the Meeting.

In its final report (CCM/MSP/2022/12), the Meeting underscored the obligation of States Parties not to use cluster munitions under any circumstances and, in accordance with the object and provisions of the Convention, condemned any use of cluster munitions by any actor. In that connection, the Meeting expressed its grave concern at the increase in civilian casualties and the humanitarian impact resulting from the repeated and well-documented use of cluster munitions since the second Review Conference. Furthermore, the Meeting specified that its grave concern applied, in particular, to the use of cluster munitions in Ukraine.

The Meeting also took stock of the implementation of the Convention and achievements since the second Review Conference. It welcomed the progress report on the implementation of the Lausanne Action Plan, covering the period from 3 October 2020 to 30 June 2022.

Additionally, the Meeting welcomed the continued progress in stockpile destruction, which had led to Guinea-Bissau clarifying, after appropriate verification activities, that it did not have any cluster munition stockpiles in its inventory.

After assessing a request submitted by Bulgaria, the Meeting agreed to grant an extension, until 31 December 2023, of the country’s deadline to complete the destruction of all its cluster munition stockpiles in accordance with article 3.2 of the Convention. The Meeting further assessed requests submitted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chad and Chile for completing the clearance and destruction of cluster munition remnants in accordance with article 4.1 of the Convention. It agreed to all three extension requests, granting an additional 12 months to Bosnia and Herzegovina (until 1 September 2023), 13 months to Chad (until 1 October 2024) and three years to Chile (until 1 June 2026).

In line with the second Review Conference's decision on mandating France and Namibia to act as focal points for gender mainstreaming, the Meeting thanked both States parties for their work on the General Status and Operation Gender Focal Points Terms of Reference (CCM/MSP/2022/WP.3).

Stressing that assisting victims and their families and communities was essential in implementing the Convention, the Meeting thanked Chile and Mexico, the Coordinators on victim assistance, for their continued work to improve coordination on victim assistance with other relevant disarmament conventions. It also encouraged States parties with that obligation to use a focal point database, as well as to integrate victim assistance into the Convention’s framework for international cooperation and assistance that went beyond international aid. The Meeting designated Abdul-Karim Hashim Mostafa (Iraq) as the President of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties, to be held in Geneva from 11 to 14 September 2023. It also decided to designate Francisca Elizabeth Méndez Escobar (Mexico) as the President of the twelfth Meeting of States Parties, to be held in 2024.

Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

In 2022, the world celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. States parties continued to further apply the Convention’s unique spirit of cooperation in their efforts to promote and implement its human-centred disarmament norms. As at the end of 2022, the Convention had 164 States parties.

The Convention represents a complete prohibition on anti-personnel mines, which are delayed-action, victim-activated weapons that continue to kill and maim indiscriminately for years after the end of the active hostilities. Most victims of anti-personnel landmines are civilians. The Convention provides for the destruction of existing mine stocks and clearance of all mine-contaminated areas within established deadlines; promotion of cooperation and assistance for achieving its goals; and support for survivors, their families and affected communities in the context of its strong victim-assistance framework. To help achieve the Convention’s goals, its States parties established an implementation machinery, which meets annually.

Intersessional activities and the twentieth Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

Pursuant to article 11 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the relevant decisions of its fourth Review Conference (APLC/CONF/2019/5) and the nineteenth Meeting of the States Parties (APLC/MSP.19/2021/15), the twentieth Meeting of the States Parties took place from 21 to 25 November in Geneva. The Meeting built on three days of informal intersessional meetings held from 20 to 22 June, as well as work by the Convention’s four committees.[17] The President of the twentieth Meeting of the States Parties, Alicia Victoria Arango Olmos[18] (Colombia) also convened the Convention’s seventh Pledging Conference in Geneva on 1 March, seeking to bolster the financial stability of the Implementation Support Unit and its 2022 workplan, as well as to secure funds for the Sponsorship Programme and twentieth Meeting of the States Parties.

The informal intersessional meetings took place from 20 to 22 June. As per the established practice, the President of the twentieth Meeting of the States Parties provided information and preliminary observations on the status of implementation of article 4 of the Convention (stockpile destruction), particularly in relation to two States that were in non-compliance with their article 4 obligations (Greece and Ukraine) and one State with stockpile destruction responsibilities in relation to previously unknown stockpiled anti-personnel mines (Gambia). The President also presented updated information on the status of implementation of article 3, in particular on matters related to anti-personnel mines retained for permitted purposes under that article, and spoke about activities to advance the Convention’s universalization.

Moreover, the Chairs of the Convention's four committees[19] presented the Committees’ activities and preliminary observations. In carrying out their respective mandates, those Committees met regularly throughout the year to review information from States parties on their implementation of commitments contained in the Oslo Action Plan (APLC/CONF/2019/5/Add.1) of the fourth Review Conference, held in 2019.

The meetings also included exchanges of views on article 5 extension requests presented by States parties[20] with article 5 obligations,[21] preparations for the twentieth Meeting of the States Parties, and the Convention’s financial status.

Two thematic discussions also took place during the intersessional meetings on “Making Every Effort Count: Towards a Successful 2025” and on “Fostering Cooperation for Rehabilitation”.

The twentieth Meeting of the States Parties was chaired by its President, Alvaro Enrique Ayala Meléndez (Colombia), who was supported by eight Vice-Presidents: Algeria, Belgium, Chile, Ecuador, Japan, Spain, Sri Lanka and the Sudan. It concluded with the adoption of a final report (APLC/MSP.20/2022/15).

Pursuant to the established practice, the Meeting commenced with a high-level opening ceremony that featured a musical performance by Ana María Villamizar, as well as messages by the Convention’s Special Envoy, Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan; the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; the Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Gilles Carbonnier; Mamadu Ba Cantre, on behalf of his 12-year old son and mine survivor Mamadu Djau; the Ambassador of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Director of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association, Margaret Arach Orech, on behalf of the Campaign; the United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards, Daniel Craig; the President of the Council of Foundation of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Barbara Haering; and the High Commissioner for Peace of Colombia, Danilo Rueda. A thematic panel entitled “Deciphering numbers: Status of Implementation” also took place as part of the opening of the Meeting.

The Meeting's discussions on the operation and status of the Convention were focused primarily on the requests by States parties to extend their respective article 5 deadlines for destroying mines in mined areas. The Meeting also heard updates from States parties on activities to fulfil their article 5 obligations. Following the established procedure (APLC/MSP.7/2006/5) and taking into account the requests submitted under article 5 and their accompanying analyses presented by the Committee on Article 5 Implementation, the Meeting granted the extension requests of Afghanistan, Argentina, Ecuador, Guinea-Bissau, Serbia, the Sudan, Thailand and Yemen.

Once again, the Meeting expressed concern that Eritrea, which was in a situation of non-compliance with article 5, had not presented an extension request and failed to engage in a cooperative dialogue with the Committee on Article 5 Implementation. Recalling its previous decision on the matter, the Meeting decided for the first time ever to seek clarification and resolve questions related to compliance by Eritrea through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with article 8.2 of the Convention, should Eritrea fail to establish a cooperative dialogue and resolve the current status of non-compliance through submission of an extension request by 31 March 2023. The Meeting also mandated the President of the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties to implement that decision and report back to the States parties in 2023.

The Meeting reaffirmed the determination of the States parties to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, including improvised anti-personnel mines, and their commitment to strengthen their efforts in order to achieve their common goals of a mine-free world and the full and equal inclusion of survivors and victims. The Meeting also condemned the use of anti-personnel mines anywhere, at any time, and by any actor, including by armed non-State actors.

As per the relevant decision of the fifteenth Meeting of the States Parties (APLC/MSP.15/2016/10, para. 38) and the fourth Review Conference (APLC/CONF/2019/5, paras. 34 (vi) and 42), the Meeting noted the Convention’s continuing unstable financial situation owing to the late payment and arrears of assessed contributions and underlined the importance to ensure full compliance with article 14 obligations. The Meeting requested the States participating in the meetings of the States parties to proceed promptly with the payment of their share of the estimated costs as soon as the assessment invoices were received.

In addition, the Meeting adopted the proposal submitted by the President to facilitate the closure of the accounts by the United Nations for each financial period within 12 months of the conclusion of that financial period and then return the credits (APLC/MSP.20/2022/15, para. 112).

With respect to the operation of the Convention, the Meeting took decisions on the following matters:

• The composition of the Convention's committees, which would be as follows: Committee on Article 5 Implementation — France and Iraq (until the end of the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties), Colombia and Sweden (until the end of the fifth Review Conference); Committee on Victim Assistance — Italy and Uganda (until the end of the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties), Slovenia and Zambia (until the end of the fifth Review Conference); Committee on Enhancement of Cooperation and Assistance — the Netherlands and Thailand (until the end of the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties), Algeria and Japan (until the end of the fifth Review Conference); and Committee on Cooperative Compliance — Switzerland and Türkiye (until the end of the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties), Norway and South Africa (until the end of the fifth Review Conference)
• Holding the 2023 intersessional meetings from 19 to 21 June 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland
• Holding the twenty-first Meeting of the States Parties in Geneva, Switzerland, from 20 to 24 November 2023 and the fifth Review Conference of the States Parties during the week of 25 to 29 November 2024
• The cost estimate for the fifth Review Conference of the States Parties (APLC/MSP.20/2022/14).

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